Drone and Anti-Drone Tactics?

mac5732 · #1 January 29th, 2002, 05:15 PM

In the demo, what were the limitations set on the drones as far as weapon types/engines/supply?
PVK mentioned if your were within 1 turn of wormhole they they could hit, what is the range restriction, in regards to lauching thru wormhole at a planet in a particular system. (I think I said what I mean) Also did anyone lauch drones thru wormhole at defending Battle Station or ships, if so what happened?

just some ideas mac

geoschmo · #2 January 29th, 2002, 05:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Q:
I may have overlooked this in the demo Version but is there any way I can control the launch of the drones in simultaneous games or strategic combat??
If not this will be the big weakness of the drones: Image your colony where you store some 50 drones and then an single enemy colony ship stumbles into the sector and all drones are launched automatically and therefore lost!!
I would hate that.

You have a point there, but I am not sure what could be done about it. Part of the definition of Drones, whether we like it or not, is that they can't be recovered once they are launched. I don't see that being changed. And there is no function to prevent them from being launched in combat that I am aware of. I suppose you could build a space station in orbit with cargo bays and no drone launchers and store them there.

Rollo · #3 January 29th, 2002, 05:33 PM

Mac- IIRC, drones cannot be launched thru a wormhole. They do not have a "warp" command. In order to get drones moving, you must give an "attack" command against a target (ship or planet). Of course you could still order an attack on a planet on the other side of the wormhole to get the drones move through.

Rollo

geoschmo · #4 January 29th, 2002, 05:36 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mac5732:
In the demo, what were the limitations set on the drones as far as weapon types/engines/supply?
PVK mentioned if your were within 1 turn of wormhole they they could hit, what is the range restriction, in regards to lauching thru wormhole at a planet in a particular system. (I think I said what I mean) Also did anyone lauch drones thru wormhole at defending Battle Station or ships, if so what happened?

just some ideas mac

You can launch them through a warp point at a planet if you have been to that system before, or are ancient race. To target a ship or base though you have to have line of sight to the target. This means either the drone has to be in system with the target, or you have to have another one of your ships in system.

Geoschmo

mac5732 · #5 January 29th, 2002, 06:19 PM

Geo & Rollo, tks for info, I was just wondering then if you have a cloaked ship on enemy side of wormhole and he is defending same with ships or battlestation, and you have line of sight to them, then in essance, (if i'm interperting this right,), we would be able to send drone thru to attack them. If this is true, then it adds new dimensions to defending wormholes, excellent..

tks again, can't wait for full Version

just some ideas mac

Q · #6 January 29th, 2002, 06:49 PM

quote:
Originally posted by geoschmo:
You have a point there, but I am not sure what could be done about it. Part of the definition of Drones, whether we like it or not, is that they can't be recovered once they are launched. I don't see that being changed. And there is no function to prevent them from being launched in combat that I am aware of. I suppose you could build a space station in orbit with cargo bays and no drone launchers and store them there.

Yes I see there is a problem and I have no ideal solution.
What might be possible:
1.) The AI seems to be able to calculate the chance to win a combat. At least that's what I suppose why frequently ships do not attack if the AI feels outnumbered. If you apply this calculation program to decide a.) if it's necessary to launch the drones at all b) how many drones are probably needed to win the combat you might have quite a good solution.
2.) Make a difference for drone recovery if attacking (no recovery possible) and defending (automatic recovery at the end of the combat).

The way it is now you have a superior strategy against drones: just attack with one drone (or even a fighter) and the enemy will launch all his drones (and eventually lose them!) in that sector.

And one more question: In the demo you can give only the order to attack for drones, no order "move to". Is that true for the full Version? I think this would prevent greatly one use for drones I supposed to be very important: reconnaissance.

geoschmo · #7 January 29th, 2002, 07:20 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Q:
And one more question: In the demo you can give only the order to attack for drones, no order "move to". Is that true for the full Version? I think this would prevent greatly one use for drones I supposed to be very important: reconnaissance.

Yes, in the full Version there is still only an attack order for drones, no move too. In fact you can't even change targets unless the original target is destroyed or manages to escape. (cloaking, warping into a system with no line of sight) If the target is destroyed or lost you can then give the drone a new attack order.